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(Reference retrieved automatically from Google Scholar through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Hepatozoon canis infecting dogs in the State of Espirito Santo, southeastern Brazil

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Author(s):
Spolidorio, Mariana G. [1] ; Labruna, Marcelo B. [2] ; Zago, Augusto M. [3] ; Donatele, Dirlei M. [4] ; Caliari, Kesia M. [3] ; Yoshinari, Natalino H. [1]
Total Authors: 6
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Lab Invest Med 17, Fac Med, BR-01246903 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Med Vet Prevent & Saude Anim, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, BR-05508270 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[3] Superintendencia Reg Saude Colatina, Nucleo Vigilancia Saude, BR-29702080 Colatina, ES - Brazil
[4] Ctr Univ Sao Camilo Espirito Santo, BR-29304910 Cachoeiro De Itapemirim, ES - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 4
Document type: Journal article
Source: Veterinary Parasitology; v. 163, n. 4, p. 357-361, 2009.
Web of Science Citations: 41
Abstract

From May 2007 to March 2008, blood samples were collected from 92 healthy dogs living in 21 households (17 farms in rural area, and 4 homes in urban area) in 6 counties of the State of Espirito Santo, southeastern Brazil. In addition, ticks were collected from these dogs. A mean of 4.4 +/- 3.0 dogs (range: 1-12) were sampled per household; 78 and 14 dogs were from rural and urban areas, respectively. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) designed to amplify fragments of the 18S rDNA gene of Babesia spp or Hepatozoon spp revealed amplicons of the expected size in 20 (21.7%) dogs for Babesia, and 54 (58.7%) dogs for Hepatozoon. All Babesia-positive dogs were also Hepatozoon-positive. Among the 21 households, 15 (71.4%) from 3 counties had at least one PCR-positive dog, including 13 farms (rural area) and 2 homes (urban area). A total of 40 PCR products from the Hepatozoon-PCR, and 19 products from the Babesia-PCR were submitted to DNA sequencing. All generated sequences from Hepatozoon-PCR were identical to each other, and to corresponding 18S rDNA sequences of H. canis in GenBank. Surprisingly, all generated sequences from the Babesia PCR were also identical to corresponding 18S rDNA sequences of H. canis in GenBank. Dogs from 10 rural and 2 urban households were found infested by Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks. Immature of Amblyomma cajennense ticks were found in dogs from only 4 rural households (also infested by R. sanguineus). All but one household with R. sanguineus-infested dogs had at least one Hepatozoon-infected dog. Statistical analysis showed that the presence of ticks (i.e. R. sanguineus) infesting dogs in the households was significantly (P < 0.05) associated with at least one PCR-positive dog. There was no significant association (P > 0.05) between PCR-positive dogs and urban or rural households. Canine hepatozoonosis caused by H. canis is a high frequent infection in Espirito Santo, Brazil, where it is possibly vectored by R. sanguineus. Since all infected dogs were found apparently healthy, the pathogenicity of H. canis for dogs in Espirito Santo is yet to be elucidated. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)